INFLUENZA

Evening Star, Issue 16993, 15 March 1919, Page 12

INFLUENZA

+ COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. The Hon. G. W. Russell, Minister of Public Health, made a further statement before the Epidemic Commission at Wellington yesterday. He said that splendid services were given by the voluntary workers, but he feared that in case of another outbreak we might not safely rely on volunteer labor. He suggested an organisation, which might be developed, for the division of the cities into blocks, and the administration of the work in those areas. At the head of this organisation would be the Chief Health Officer. Among tho suggestions were that this officer or his deputy should have power to commandeer buildings for hospitals, motor cars, fruit, and the services of doctors and nurses. Tho Government had had recourse to tho War Regulaitons for those emergency measures, but there_ would be no war and no War Regulations presently, and he thought there ought to ho power under the Public Health Act to take those emergency measures. In the event of National Prohibition being carried tho Public Health Department would have to carry stocks of alcohol for medicinal purposes. To get this medicine the people would require certificates, and arrangements would bo made for Government doctors to give these certificates free of charge. Legislation would be necessary to give the Government power to arrange for the burial of the dead and to fix the cost of funerals. In the event of another epidemic tho Government would have to consider whether part of the cost would not have to be borne by the local authorities. In this case it had been all homo by the General Government, and the total cost would be not less than £250,000. The Commission will sit again on Monday-